Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty for Aortic Stenosis

Figure 1

Representative images obtained from a patient during transthoracic ultrasound-guided percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty. (a) Preoperative measurement of the aortic annulus (1.69 cm). (b) Preoperative measurement of the aortic valve area (0.48 cm²). (c) Intraoperative echocardiography showed that the guide-wire had passed through the stenotic aortic valve. (d) Intraoperative echocardiography showed that the balloon had passed through the stenotic aortic valve and the balloon had filled to expand the aortic valve. (e) The preoperative aortic valve flow rate was 5.3 m/s, and severe stenosis was evident. (f) Postoperatively, the aortic valve flow rate had decreased to 3.2 m/s and the aortic stenosis was significantly relieved.

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